Page 37 of Chasing Sunsets

“Kevin! Kevin!”

She looked down at Zack. “I can’t do anything here.”

He eased her to the ground. Once her feet hit the asphalt, she ran over to the white car, the one by the median.

The driver had gotten out of the passenger door and leaned over the crying baby in a car seat in the back. Windows intact, the airbags were not deployed.

“How are you two?” Sadie asked.

The woman straightened and faced them, a baby bottle in her hand. “I saw the truck approaching in my rearview mirror and slowed. He passed and lost control. I slammed on my brakes to avoid him and slid, scraping the median. We’re fine.”

“Let the paramedics check you both out,” Sadie insisted.

She and Zack rushed to the last vehicle. Sirens rose over the sound of crying and revving engines.

The man standing at his open driver’s door asking if everyone was alright appeared unharmed even though his car was now aimed into oncoming traffic. A short someone sat in the passenger seat.

When they got close, Sadie pointed. “Who’s inside?”

“My wife, Harriett.”

“Sir, you should sit in your car until the police and paramedics arrive.”

The man stared at the truck. “It happened so fast. He started to jackknife, and I hit the brakes. Around we went.”

They skirted to the passenger side, and Zack opened the door.

Fear in her eyes, the gray-haired woman gasped.

“Hi, Harriett, do you hurt anywhere?” Sadie calmly hunched down and clasped the woman’s wrist.

Harriet pressed a hand over her heart.

“Zack, please get our lunch bag.”

He sprinted to their SUV. Sirens screeched louder and red lights flashed from somewhere across the median. It wasn’t until he started back that he saw Truman filming the mayhem.

Upon seeing Zack returning with the bag, the old man stooped to look into the car. “Darling, is something wrong?” He crawled into the classic sedan and scooted across the bench seat to sit next to his wife.

“She’s hyperventilating.” Sadie took the bag from Zack and placed it over Harriet’s mouth. “Slow and easy.”

“Oh, my love, is it your anxiety?”

Harriett nodded. She clutched the bag as it inflated and deflated with each breath she took.

“I’m sorry. I should’ve realized this might happen and stayed in the car with you.”

Harriett pulled the bag from her mouth long enough to say, “Strike two, Louie.”

He smiled. “I’ve dreaded this day since I got my first strike on our second anniversary. But you have to admit, we both knew this day would come. After fifty-six years of marriage, it was bound to happen.”

“What do we have here?”

Sadie stepped back for the paramedic to assess the patient.

“You want to stay until everyone is rescued?” Zack offered.

“I’ve done what I can.” She laced her fingers with his. They started toward the SUV, and she called, “Truman, we’re leaving.”

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